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Protest rallies in the days of the pandemic:Editorial in Pakistan Today, Nov 18,2020


The second wave of covid-19 appearing at the end of last month has already led to a fourfold increase in cases, with mortalities jumping from six or seven per day to 25 now. This has led the NCOC to issue new SOPs for social gatherings. Prime Minister Imran Khan has meanwhile announced cancelation of the PTI’s public meetings that were scheduled for coming weeks and months. He has asked the opposition parties also to call off their rallies.

The PM has no need to hold rallies and public gatherings except for self-gratification. Whenever he decides to address the nation, he receives full coverage from both the government-controlled and private media channels, besides Radio Pakistan. The opposition does not enjoy similar access to media and is forced therefore to hold public rallies to criticize government policies and convey its stance on national issues to the people. The opposition has currently announced a series of protest rallies of which three are yet to be held. With the kind of treatment being meted out to Shehbaz Sharif, the Leader of the Opposition, currently in custody, and the way fresh cases are being filed against opposition figures, there is all the more need for the opposition to highlight among other national issues, the ongoing poiltical persecution at public gatherings.

A responsible opposition however cannot disregard the threat posed by the pandemic to public health. There is a perception that the abnormal rise in coronavirus-positive cases recently recorded in Gilgit-Baltistan was caused, among other things, by the feverish election-related activity with the PTI, PML(N) and PPP vying with one another in a show of strength, where scant attention was paid to covid-19 SOPs. In case the opposition parties decide to go for their rallies, they have to ponder deeply over how to prevent the spread of the pandemic while they bring together tens of thousands of people at their public meetings. It is not enough to advise their supporters to wear masks and keep the required distance from one another. It should be the responsibility of the organizers to provide masks to those who do not have them and map out a proper seating arrangement at every rally.
https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2020/11/17/protest-rallies-in-the-days-of-the-pandemic/